Research: Evaluating Sources Primary vs. Secondary Sources Junior AP English Kingwood Park High School

The quantity of information available is so staggering that we cannot know everything about a subject. For example, it's estimated that anyone attempting to research what's known about depression would have to read over 100,000 studies on the subject. And there's the problem of trying to decide which studies have produced reliable results.

Evaluating Sources Evaluating sources is an important skill. You have to decide where to look, what clues to search for, and what to accept. You may be overwhelmed with too much information or too little. The temptation is to accept whatever you find. But don't be tempted. Learning how to evaluate effectively is a skill you need both for your course papers and for your life. When writing research papers, you will also be evaluating sources as you search for information. You will need to make decisions about what to search for where to look if it is a valid or useful source

Checking for signs of bias Does the author or publisher endorse political or religious views that could affect objectivity? Is the author or publisher associated with a special-interest group, such as Greenpeace or the National Rifle Association, that might present only one side of an issue? Are alternative views presented and addressed? How fairly does the author treat opposing views? Does the author’s language show signs of bias?

Assessing an Argument What is the author’s central claim or thesis? How does the author support this claim—with relevant and sufficient evidence or with just a few anecdotes or emotional examples? Are statistics consistent with those you encounter in other sources? Have they been used fairly? Does the author explain where the statistics come from? (It is possible to “lie” with statistics by using them selectively or by omitting mathematical details.) Are any of the author’s assumptions questionable? Does the author consider opposing arguments and refute them persuasively? Does the author fall prey to any logical fallacies?

The introduction of the world wide web made vast amounts of information available to individuals almost overnight. However, research is complicated by the expanse of information available as anyone is able to build and post to websites. The responsibility on the researcher is greater than ever and requires extra care. All sites are not alike. There is little regulation in how sites are constructed or the information (author, publisher, dates) that is made available to a serious researcher. Again, detective work is required to protect the student/researcher.

Evaluating Web sources: Authorship Does the Web site or document have an author? You may need to do some clicking and scrolling to find the author’s name. If you have landed directly on an internal page of a site, for example, you may need to navigate to the home page or find an “about this site” link to learn the name of the author. If there is an author, can you tell whether he or she is knowledgeable and credible? When the author’s qualifications aren’t listed on the site itself, look for links to the author’s home page, which may provide evidence of his or her interests and expertise.

Evaluating Web Sources: Sponsorship Who, if anyone, sponsors the site? The sponsor of a site is often named and described on the home page. What does the URL tell you? The domain name extension often indicates the type of group hosting the site: commercial (.com), educational (.edu), nonprofit (.org), governmental (.gov), military (.mil), or network (.net). URLs may also indicate a country of origin:.uk (United Kingdom) or.jp (Japan), for instance.

Evaluating Web Sources: Purpose and audience Why was the site created: To argue a position? To sell a product? To inform readers? Who is the site’s intended audience?

Evaluating Web Sources: Currency How current is the site? Check for the date of publication or the latest update, often located at the bottom of the home page or at the beginning or end of an internal page. How current are the site’s links? If many of the links no longer work, the site may be too dated for your purposes.

Types of Sources Primary vs. Secondary

Primary Sources A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types of primary sources include: ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

Which of the following would be primary sources? A.Diary of Anne Frank B.The Constitution of Canada C.A journal article reporting NEW research or findings D.Weavings and pottery E.Plato's Republic

ALL are examples of primary sources Diary of Anne Frank - Experiences of a Jewish family during WWII The Constitution of Canada - Canadian History A journal article reporting NEW research or findings Weavings and pottery - Native American history Plato's Republic - Women in Ancient Greece

Secondary Sources A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include: PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias

Which are examples of secondary sources? A.A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings B.A history textbook C.A book about the effects of WWI

ALL are secondary sources A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings A history textbook A book about the effects of WWI

Bibliography "Evaluating Sources: Overview." Purdue OWL: Evaluating Sources of Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar "Primary vs Secondary Sources." Princeton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar